Improvement in convertible chairs



T. H. WOOLVERTON.

ConvertiblefChair.

Ne. 212,778. Patented Feb. 25., 1879.

TGN. D C.

N.FETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASWNG ivrrn lraras THOMAS H. VOOLVERTON, OF NET YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO YILLIAM H. OLARKSON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONVERTIBLE CHAIRS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 21%,?? dated February 25, 1879 application filed August 8, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnonns H'. WooLvnn- TON, ot' the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and uset'ul Improveinentin Convertible Chairs, which improvementis fully set forth in the following specification. reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my inventionis to provide a chair of any suitable and convenient size, shape, or style which will answer the several purposes of a chair and vwash-bench for the kitchen or laundry, or for a bench, stool, stand7 or seat for any other convenient use or purpose, provided with a` support or brace attached to each side of the seat and the front legs, in such manner as to serve as legs under the middle of the bench, stool, seat, or stand when opened.

In the drawings similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure l is a perspective view of the device ready for use as an ordinary chair. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chair unfolded for use as a bench. Fig. 3 is a view of the inside of the brace or support when detached; and

Fig. 4, a view of a section ot' the leg of the' chair, with the pivot b secured to the same, its head inserted in the slot c1.

A and b are, respectively, the seat and legs of a common chair, madein the ordinaryinanner. Under the seat A, and fastened to the front edges by hinges d d, is a second seat, A, of the same shape and size as the seat A.

a is the cross-bar or top of the back of an ordinary chair, connected with the seat A in the ordinary manner. c is the screw or other proper fastening used to affix the brace or support O to the seat A. el is the T-shaped slot cut into the inside of the brace or support, and c2 is the foot of the brace or support, which rests upon the ground or iioor when the chair is converted into a bench, as shown in Fig. 2.

My invention consists ot' a double-seated chair, otherwise constructed in the ordinary manner, with the seats hinged or otherwise joined together at the front edges, d d, so as to enable the back of the chair to be brought over forward, and the cross-bar t to rest upon the ground or floor, as shown in Fig. 2, and

provided with a support or brace, C, of sufficient strength, screwed or in some other suitable manner affixed to each side of the seat A, near the front edges, in a perpendicular line with the front legs, b b, as shown in Fig. l, and extending downward along the outside of the said front legs such a distance as to just clear the ground or fioor when the chair is folded, and affixed to the front legs at a suitable point near the cross-rung of the chair by a pivot, b', having a T-shaped head, threaded and screwed into the leg at that point, the head forming a sufiicient shoulder, and set in the groove or hidden slot c, cut into the inside of the brace or support, and of the proper width, depth, andlength, and ot' the same shape inside as the head of the pivot, and in such manner as to allow the head of the pivot to move freely in the slot while the chair is being converted into a bench or other convenience, as above named, and vice versa.

Any other suitable-shaped pivot or largeheaded screw or bolt may be used for the purpose of securing the brace or support to the legs, and the slot may be cut to conform to its shape; or a socket or slide may be used, ot' suitable construction and material, in the form ot' a band, embracing the leg and brace at the proper point, or embracin g the leg and only part ofthe brace on each edge ofit. Incase the socket or slide is used the slot maybe dispensed with.

The object of the groove or slot is to allow the brace or support to conform to the movements necessary in the conversion ot1 the device into a bench or other convenience, and then into a chair again-viz., when the chair is being converted into a bench or any other of said conveniences, these braces or supports being atlixed to the upper seat of the chair, as above described, and to the legs, they are necessarily raised and lowered by the movements until the conversion is complete.

The groove or slot may be cut into the inside of the brace or support, as' above described; or it may be cut entirely through the brace or support and left open, so that the head of the pivot or other fastening of that character may form a shoulder on the outside of the brace or support along the open slot. The duty of the pivot, screw, or bolt, or other fastening, is to hold the brace or support to the leg of the chair, and it, as Well as the braces and supports, may be made of malleable or wrought iron, or any other suitable metal, or wood or other material.

In order to keep the seats A A closed and in proper position when my device is closed for use as a chair, a hook and pin, or hook and staple, or other suitable fastening, may be ai'- iixed to the back edges of the seats.

When it is desired to convert the chair into a bench or other convenience hereinuiamed, with my braces or supports attached, it is only necessary to bring the back of the chair forward to the ground or floor, as above described, and, without any further movement, trouble, or fixing, it is ready for immediate practical use as a bench, stool, stand, or seat, for the purposes herein set forth.

My device above described may be made capable of conversion into apiano-stool, for the purpose of seating a number of persons at the piano, by constructing` a suitable chair of proper style and iinish, and suitably upholstered for use in the parlor, havin g double seats A and A, and the necessarynumber of braces or supports, ot' proper iinish and material, attached in the manner herein speciiied, the cushions being let into each seat of the stool a sufficient distance to allow the seats to close one upon the other when folded into the chair position; or there maybe separate cushions lnade to be removed from the stool when it may be desired to fold it into the position of a chair.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Aconvertible chair consisting` of two hinged seats provided with suitable legs, and back and braces attached, substantially as described, whereby such braces serve as legs or supports for the middle portion ot" the bench or seat into which the chair may be converted, in the manner described.

THOMAS H. WOOLVERTON.

Witnesses:

RICHARD H. BYRNE, JOHN J. MASKELL. 

